Ty dug into his food, seeing as how it was his birthday dinner, and Mark and June were hardly eating. He watched the table.
Mark kept staring at Dustin, his barely contained lust almost palpable. June just seemed a little stunned, but unwilling to broach the subject and confront anybody. Ryan and Dustin/Daphne chattered along, sounding for all the world like a big dumb jock and his cheerleader girlfriend.
Ty finished first and pushed his plate away to watch, quickly followed by Dustin/Daphne and Ryan.
"Mom, Dad, is it okay if Ryan and I go up to my room to, um, study for awhile?" asked Dustin in his girlish voice.
Mark jerked out of his reverie. "Um, okay, Daphne. Sure."
Dustin gave Mark a simpering smile, "Thanks, Daddy! Come on, Ryan!" he said, grabbing Ryan by the hand and practically running upstairs to his room.
After getting the smile from Dustin, Mark's own face was left in a dopey grin. He watched Daphne and Ryan got up from the table, unable to tear his eyes away from his son's shapely legs and perky little skirt as they bounced up the stairs.
As soon as they were out of earshot, June slapped him on the arm. "What the hell was that? And why are you encouraging my little boy Dustin?"
Mark grimaced. "Encourage him? What do you want me to do, beat some sense into him? It's probably just a prank."
"Prank? He was making goo-goo eyes at Ryan all night, the little tramp!" June squeezed herself. "And you! You were leering at him all night. I never knew you liked your own son that much!"
"Hey, wait a minute!" said Mark. "I was as shocked as you were! If he hasn't snapped out of this by tomorrow, we'll see about taking Dustin to a doctor on Monday. It's got to be some sort of prank, or he's mentally ill." Mark thought for a moment. "And did you see how Ryan was acting towards Dustin? The two of them must be in on it together. They're probably up there right now trying to figure out how to make us even more crazy!"
"Um," interrupted Ty. "Call him 'Daphne', but don't notice that you're doing it." He spoke softly, but still loud enough to be heard clearly. Would they obey the implied command?
"I suppose you're right. I just worry about Daphne, him being such a late bloomer and all," June said.
"Yeah, yeah," said Mark, sounding a little distracted. Why had he responded so strongly to Daphne? What was going on around here? Was he secretly gay?
"Do you know anything about this, Ty?" asked June. She looked very worried. "This just isn't at all like the sort of stunt Daphne usually pulls."
"Nope, Mom. I don't know anything at all," said Ty, innocently.